The Stalker's Demonic Knife
The day after helping the little chick. Up until lunch, my routine was the same as always. I fed the mascots, who had devolved into nothing more than parasites, and spent my time enjoying games and movies. And then evening rolled around. Just like yesterday, I headed to the cafe where the protagonist worked.
—Ding!
"…Welcome."
There were fewer customers than I'd expected today. Maybe that's why I ran straight into the protagonist, who was casually sweeping the first floor. She greeted me with the same stiff words as yesterday.
Her voice sounds even colder than before.
…Why? Did she hate the fatigue reliever? It was a pretty good drink even for magical girls—great for the body, and popular among those complaining of mental exhaustion despite their physical health.
Did that part-timer not pass it on? Nah, that doesn't seem right…
Or maybe she just doesn't like that kind of gift. I could see that being the case. Considering her unique magic, even as a girl, it'd make anyone uncomfortable.
…Wait.
Unique magic?
Come to think of it… her reaction was a bit off when we first met.
The protagonist's unique magic wouldn't have worked on me. And for the first time ever, running into someone immune to it? Naturally, she'd be on guard.
…A suspicious figure whose status as a magical girl is questionable. That must be the image I have in her eyes right now. Handing her that drink might've been a misstep.
I can still feel her staring.
Pretending not to notice, she kept glancing my way. I ignored the looks as best I could, quickly placed my order, and sat down. Even after that, her gaze flicked toward me periodically.
"Enjoy your meal."
I fixed my eyes on the food. Meeting her gaze would just make things awkward. The protagonist, standing a good distance away, was still watching me intently.
…Gonna give me indigestion at this rate.
I probably wouldn't eat much today.
Basking in the protagonist's uncomfortably intense attention like that, the day was steadily drawing to a close before I knew it. The now-quiet cafe was buzzing with preparations for closing time.
But then.
"Um, excuse me…"
"…Sir. If you keep this up, I'm calling the police."
"N-no, wait…! Just… your number, at least…!"
The protagonist was arguing with a customer. Situation-wise, it was the kind of thing I'd seen countless times yesterday and today. But something felt off—
…Unsettling.
The man's state was weird. His breathing was irregular, like he was excited. He was stammering from tension. His disheveled appearance, hood pulled up just like mine. Anyone would find him suspicious, and my brow furrowed on instinct.
…Now that I think about it, there was that stalking incident. Forgot about it.
I'd overlooked it because of the major first event coming up in a few days. I definitely remembered it from the manhwa—a brief mention in passing.
What was it again?
Something about a part-timer getting hurt in a stalking case.
"Please stop. You've been coming here for days doing this, and I have zero interest in you."
"I-it's really my type…! Please, just meet me once… Or, uh, dinner outside…!"
"…Sigh."
At least the victim wasn't the protagonist. No matter what that guy did, harming a magical girl like her was next to impossible. If anyone got hurt—
"Hanbyeol, come here."
"…Unnie."
"We're closing soon, so if you could please leave, we'd appreciate it."
Another part-timer stepped in, unable to watch any longer. …It was the woman I'd given the drink to yesterday. She pulled the protagonist back and slowly approached the man. I stood up from my seat in sync.
"…F-fuck…!"
"Sir."
The man's condition was off. The approaching part-timer sensed it too and halted, going on guard. But.
"Fuckin'… y-you bastards…! Keep fuckin' ignoring me…! You fuckin' bitches…!!"
"…!!"
The man shuddered as he pulled something from his pocket. It looked like a weapon to anyone watching.
…Hold on. Something's wrong.
The kitchen knife's color was unnaturally murky. The blade glowed an ominous dark purple.
I knew exactly what it was.
Demonic Energy?
A kitchen knife infused with Demonic Energy.
…How the hell did that guy get his hands on it?
"You… fuckin' bastards!!"
Whoosh—!
He didn't even charge. In his agitated state, he drew the kitchen knife from its sheath and hurled it forward like trash.
…Straight toward the part-timer.
…Yeah. This is bad.
I drew up my magic power.
And commanded.
"Stop."
Halt.
The blade, hurtling viciously toward the part-timer, froze midair. Confirming that, I strode toward the guy.
Tap.
"…Wh-what?"
I tripped him, and the stumbling man lost his balance. Grabbing the back of his head—
"Mmph—"
Thud!
I slammed him hard into the floor. The shop shook, cracks spiderwebbing across the ground.
No need to hold back on the strength.
He probably wouldn't die. He'd been exposed to Demonic Energy for a while, so his monsterization was well underway. The fact that his skull hadn't shattered outright proved it.
"Ugh… ah…"
"…Tch."
The foul stench of Demonic Energy hit me for the first time in ages. I pulled my hand away and stood up.
"Report it to the Association right away."
"…Y-yes! Th-thank you so much for saving me!"
"Just doing what a magical girl should. No big deal."
…Even if I'm retired now.
I accepted the part-timer's thanks and subtly checked the protagonist's reaction nearby. Or tried to.
"…Excuse me."
"…?"
The protagonist had closed in right up to my face. Just like all day.
Her expression cold and hard, she glared at me.
…What did I do wrong?
Was she mad? About what? Breaking the floor?
I stared right back at her. The protagonist just kept glaring, but for some reason, she wouldn't speak.
…Her lips were moving like she had something to say.
"Hanbyeol, relax your face. You're making her misunderstand."
"…Ah. That’s…"
"…?"
The part-timer's words from the side, delivered with a smile, made the protagonist's face flush red. What was she trying to say that had her hesitating like this? I waited quietly.
And then—
"…Thank you so much for helping."
"…Huh? Oh… sure?"
"And the fatigue reliever from yesterday. I drank it all. Thanks to it, most of my exhaustion is gone."
I got a perfectly normal thank-you. What the hell? Then what was with all the glaring earlier?
"Ahaha… She's always been picky about people, you know? She clams up around anyone she's interested in. Gets prickly when she's nervous~"
"…Ah, that explains the staring."
"…S-sorry if it bothered you."
"Nah, it wasn't a problem. No need to apologize."
It had been extremely uncomfortable, but whatever. Winning the protagonist's favor was a huge win. Those stares up till now had actually been her wanting to talk.
Learning that adorable truth made it hard to keep a straight face for a second.
So this is what the protagonist is really like.
In the manhwa, she always fought alone, growing more broken inside and out. Seeing her like this, all normal and sane, was refreshing even for me.
Now she really looked like a cute little chick.
"Should've talked to me sooner."
"…I feel ashamed I didn't."
"Ashamed?"
"N-nothing…"
Probably referring to how she'd been wary of me before.
Fair enough, she had reason to suspect me.
I could've been a witch or a monster, not a magical girl.
…Whatever. The misunderstanding was cleared up, so it didn't matter.
"What was your name again?"
"Jeong Hanbyeol…"
"Pretty name."
"…Um. Unnie?"
"Yeah."
That honorific still didn't sit right.
"Call me sunbae."
"Pardon?"
"I'm your sunbae as a magical girl, right? You're the junior."
"…You knew I was a magical girl."
"A sunbae can tell, kiddo. …Oh, and my name's Cha Seol-hyun. Remember it well."
"…Yes. Seol-hyun sunbae-nim."
Ahem. Yeah, that sounded right. Especially with this cute chick looking up at me, calling me sunbae-nim.
…I might've come off too chummy from the excitement, but.
…Wanna just kidnap her.
She was that cute. I barely resisted the urge to pat her head.
Not long after, a magical girl from the Association arrived.
…Luckily, it was a junior who vaguely knew me, so the incident wrapped up quickly.
But.
Something still feels off.
On my way home after parting with Hanbyeol junior, I mulled over the earlier events.
…Was it like that in the original story too?
I tilted my head. No matter how I thought about it, that didn't add up.
It couldn't have ended with just one part-timer injured, like the manhwa mentioned.
Demonic Energy. The energy used by monsters, monsterized humans, or witches. It's lethal even to superhuman magical girls' bodies. The thicker the concentration, the deadlier—like a poison that can kill just from proximity.
That man's kitchen knife had a dangerous enough density.
If that part-timer had been hit by the thrown knife? Or if Jeong Hanbyeol had tried to block it?
…The outcome was obvious.
Guess I need to check it out myself.
That guy, mid-monsterization, was handed over to the Association. They'd probably interrogate him soon.
Looks like I had a reason to visit the Association after all this time.
…Who the hell is behind this?
Stuff not in the original had popped up occasionally before, sure. But this was a definite outlier.
The protagonist nearly died, after all.
Crunch.
I chewed a candy.
Crunch.
Crunch crunch.
I pulled out a few more and shoved them in my mouth, crunching away. Only then did the stress ease a bit.